Language – it’s how we let our thoughts and needs be known unto others. We excitedly anticipate hearing a child’s “first word”, and then it’s not long and we’re praying that they’ll stop asking, “Why?” Because words are important. Words mean things. How do you communicate?
Words can build you up or they can knock you down. James warns us that “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth? And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members that it defileth the whole body and setteth on fire the the wheel of nature, and it is set on fire of hell” (James 3:5-6). “But the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8) So, even though the tongue is a small part of the body, it is a part that is difficult to control. But yet, we can. “Therefore hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, Who will not allow you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (I Corinthians 10:13). Yes, you can control what comes out of your mouth. Friends, what should not be heard by “little ears,” should not be said by “big mouths!” Have you ever been around someone who knows that you are a Christian, and they “watch their language” or say, “Pardon my language” before they say something they shouldn’t? It’s so sad when people realize beforehand and plan to use foul language.
What tears my heart up even more is the flippant way God’s name is used in our society. In ancient days, when scribes were copying God’s word, when they would get to “His name”, they would stop – go bathe, put on clean clothes and cleanse themselves before writing God’s name. They had that much reference and respect for the name of our Creator and Savior. Now, you hear someone say God’s name many times within an hour on television. The name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just a “by-word” to many. The Israelites were commanded “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain” (Exodus 20:7). When Mary was told that she would have a son, she praised the Lord and said, “For He that is might hath done to me great things; and holy is His name” (Luke 1:49). Words mean things. “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man” (Matthew 14:18). Paul told Timothy, “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings” (I Timothy 6:20a). In other words, watch what you are saying.
Are you using your tongue to glorify God? “For he that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile” (I Peter 3:10). Use your words for good. “Let no communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). Remember – what should not be heard by “little ears,” should not be said by “big mouths.” Simply blessed, Courtney